meeze



(No Model.)

- AA. G. MYEEZE.

A PROCESS 0E MANUFACTURING GAS. No. 382,374. Patented May 8. 1888.

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WITNESSES, IN VENTOR gf ./ttoney,

N. PETERS, Phuxmtlthugmplmr. mfhingnm. D. c.

To all whom it may concern:

NrTnU ARTHUR G. Mnnzn, or nnDHILL, coUNTY or sonner, ENGLAND.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 382,374, dated May 8, 1889.

Application filed October 29, 1887. Serial No. 253,747. (No model.)

Be it known that I, ARTHUR G. MEEZE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residlng at Redhill, in the county of Surrey, England, have invented certain new andv useful Improvements in the Process of Manufacturing Gas; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX'act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the manufacture of illuminating-gas by the mutual decomposition of steam and hydrocarbon fluid in contact with suitable heated surfaces-such as deliecting and impact devices-and by combining with the nascent gases and vapors of such deco1n position a suitable regulated proportion of natural gas, hydrogen, carbonio oxide, or mixture of hydrogen and carbonio eXide,coin monly known as water-gas, preferably in a heated condition.

The object of the invention is to produce thorough decomposition and recomposition of the steam and hydrocarbon oil, and to combine with the rich hydrocarbon gas and vapor in the nascent state a chemically-active or combustible diluting agent-such as hydrogen, marsh-gas, or carbonio oxidemand cause the formation of fixed light-giving compounds of high candlepower.

My process will be described in detail in the description of the` operation, and the matter constituting my invention will be defined in the claims. i

A suitable apparatus for carrying out my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which represents a vertical longitudinal section of a double or through retort containing a steam-superheating coil, an ingressionpipe, and deliecting and impact devices.

I preferably use a ireclay retort, A, of the double-length variety, having` a mouthpiece, L L', and lid G G at each end,and of any convenient cross-section, such as round, elliptical, or D-shaped. A number of retorts may be set in a bench and fired like ordinary gascoal-distilling retorts. It is also my purpose to adapt existing coal-gas retorts for carrying out my process by tting them with the internal devices and connections herewith described. In connection with my retorts suit- The body of the retort is lled with deilect- 4 ingand impact devices D, each composed of an annulus, a, disk d, a connecting-body having numerous narrow longitudinal openings, and inclined spacing or separating legs Z. 'Ihe detlecting devices D are made of a shape to correspond with the cross-section of the retort, so as to provide uniform passages between them and the walls of the retort. Two or more of the deiectors at the right-hand or rear end of the retort, where the water-gas is supplied, are made with solid disks d, to act as heaters for the intlowing water-gas; but the remaining deflectors have their disks d provided with central perforations to receive the ingressionpipe or small retort B. This internal retort, B, is preferably made of thin wrought-iron or other suitable metal, and of about one-fourthY to one-sixth the diameter of the surrounding retort A, and long enough to 1extend from the front to about two-thirds or three-fourths the length of such outer retort, as shown. It is neatly tted at its front end in an opening in lid G, and is provided with a flange or ring shrunk thereon, which may be bolted to the lid, and is supported centrally in retort A by deflectors D, as shown. Defiectors D, made with rings a', disks d', and legs Z', and preferably of castiron, are fitted in retort B from its rear open end to near its front end, leaving suflicient space at front for the proper injection of steam and oil. The injector I is titted by a flange to lid G, so as to open centrally into retort I3. The double steam-superheating coil G is preferably arranged at or near vthe front of retort A around retort B, and steamsu'pply pipe c connects with its induction end through the lid, while pipe o leads from its outlet end through thelid to injectorI. A.supply-pipe,b,forpetroleum,shale oil, or other hydrocarbon tluid, also connects with injector I. The steam-pipe may connect with the front end of the injector, while the oil-pipe connects with its top or side. A pipe, F, having controlling-valve f, connects with mouth-piece L', for supplying hydrogen gas or Water-gas. Stand-pipe E, leading to the hydrauli-c main or sealbox,connects with mouthpiece L. The lid G, steamcoil C, and injector IOO I may be so connected that they may be re-` moved together without disturbing the ingression-pipe or retort B.

` The detlectors D in the outer retort are preferably made of refractory material, though they will do good service if made of metal. Vapors and gases-such as steam, oil-vapor, and gas--cannot be effectually heated, decomposed, and combined by radiation from contiguous hot surfaces, and I have found it necessary to cause the vapors and gases to pass by direct and repeated impact in contact with the hot surfaces extending through the area of the retort, in order to effect their uniform and economical decomposition and combination to form a homogeneous fixed gas. For securing the improved results above stated I have found the defiecting and impact devices D D to admirably answer the purpose. They are important features in successfully carrying out my process.

In order to manufacture gas the operation is as follows: The retorts are fired in the ordinary way, and when heated to the proper gasmaking temperature, well known to engineers, a supply of high-pressure steam from the boiler is admitted by pipe c through an ordinary regulating-valve to the superheating-coil C,where it is highly superheated, and thence to injector I. The hydrocarbon oil is then admitted in regulated quantity from the su pply-tank by pipe b to the injector, from which it is thrown in a vapor-spray by the jet of' superheated steam into ingression-pipe or retort B. The steam and oil-vapors are thoroughly mixed and highly heated, nearly to the point of decomposition, by contact with the defiecting and impact devices D in their passage through retort B, and are discharged therefrom into outer retort, A,where the production of fixed gas at once begins. After gradually admitting oil to the injector, hydrogen (light carbureted hydrogen, such as natural gas or water-gas) is admitted in regulated quantity from a holder or other source of supply through pipe Finto the rear of retort A,where it is heated by contact with defiectors D. The heated gas meets the highly-heated current of oil-vapor and steam flowing from retort B, and the mixture flows in contact with the deflecting and impact devices surrounding retort B, resultingin their. complete decomposition and recomposition to form a fixed high-grade illuminating-gas. In this reaction hydrogen gas chemically unites with the rich hydrocarbon vapor or gas in the nascent state to form fixed carbureted hydrogen gas of a merchantable character, and some of the carbonio oxide and marsh-gas enter into new combinations, by which the lightgiving quality of the final product is improved. The hydrocarbons are thus all utilized and prevented from being dcstructively decomposed with the formation and deposit of lampblack or hard carbon on the one hand, or, on the other hand, from passing oft' in the form of 'tarry condensable vapor.

The exact proportion of oil and steam adpreferably used for drawing off' the gas as generated.

The apparatus herein described is not claimed in this application, as it is made the subject of aseparate application, filed December 8, 1887, for apparatus for manufacturing gas.

It has heretofore been proposed to decom pose steam in a bed of fuel in a furnace and pass the whole resulting product without regulation or control of' the fiow directly into a flue leading'to a superheater, and at the same time to cause petroleum to fiow upon an inclined table and be vaporized by the heat thereof, and the vapors to descend through the fiue along with hydrogen or other gases from the generator or furnace. It is stated that these gases commingling and being fixed by the heat of the superheater pass off to the holder. In the above connection it is also described that steam may be passed into an annular chamber around the upper part of the generator, so that the highly-heated steam cornes into contact with the petroleum dropped upon the shelf and aids in vaporizing the same.

My processis distinguished from the above in the fact that the steam and hydrocarbon oil are injected in regulated proportions into a heated chamber, where the oil is vaporized and the vapors thoroughly mixed with the` steam, and the mixture highly heated by special means, which I have described above. The thorough mixture and preliminary heating of the oil-vapor and steam have not been performed by others in the manufacture of gas from oil, steam, and afterward a diluting-gas such as hydrogen or water gas-added Another distinguishing feature in my process is that of vadmitting the diluting-gas in regulated and controlled quantity and proper proportion to the mixing and fixing retort, and there heating it before admixture with the heated steam and oil-vapor, so that a gas of more even quality and controlled candle-power may be produced.

Having described my invention,whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The process of manufacturing gas which consists in first injecting steam and hydrocarbon oil into a heated chamber or retort and,

position by passing the mixture by direct impact in contact with numerous heated deflecting-surfaces till it is converted into a fixed gas.

2. rIhe process of manufacturing gas which consists in injecting steam and hydrocarbon IOO oil in regulated quantities into a heated chamimpact in Contact with numerous heated del io ber or retort and therein vaporizing the oil, fleeting-surfaces till it is converted into a iixed thoroughly mixing the vapor with steam and gas.

highly heating the mixture, admitting a regu-A In testimony whereof I affix my signature in lated quantity of hydrogen or water gas into a, l presence-of two Witnesses.

retort, heating it and mixing it While hot With ARTHUR G. MEEZE. the highly-heated mixture of oil-vapors and Witnesses:

steam, and causing decomposition and recom- W. H. H. YOUNG,

position by passing the mixture by direct D. S. HAMMOND. 

